Unfortunately, with the closure of Old Stage Road due to flooding and the continued closure of Rampart Range Road since the Waldo Canyon fire, our access to trails is limited. There's some nice areas off Mt Herman road (west out of Monument) and that hooks up with Rampart north of the closure area. . You can still get to Old Stage/Gold Camp road, but you've gotta go all the way around thru Cripple Creek to get there.

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Head out to the Gulches (north of Divide) or a couple of trails around Woodland Park. Get the Charles Wells book "Colorado Backroads" www.funtreks.com (they are located on Monument if you want to go pick one up and save on shipping).

Buena Vista has a good trail. Chinamans Gulch. You would need a to be built up a little, but it is a fun trail.
Whale Rock...
The best part about this trail, is, it seems to change from one time to the next. I would only consider running it if you have a least 33's and 1 locker.

I'm new to the Colorado Springs area and I'm trying to meet new people. I have a 2012 JK and love to go rolling around the mud but I don't know where the good trails are here. Any thoughts?

Hey welcome to the board and welcome to the area. Just as everyone said about the trails already, between the fires and the flooding our trails have taken a beating. If you go for a short drive past Woodland Park, there are the three gulches that you can run. Not much for mud here, its a desert climate mostly.

Next summer, come over to the Gunnison-Crested Butte area for a visit. Paradise Divide above Crested Butte is one of the most scenic parts of the state in my opinion. If you get real brave, the trails between Ouray, Silverton and Telluride are amazing. I suggest that you travel with a group of Jeeps when doing serious off-roading in these areas.

We made a couple of trips over to the Gunnison area this year, Labor day, and the end of September. We didn't hit any of the real trails, but doing some upgrades over the winter, so may start doing the more moderate trails next summer.

I'm out, I work Monday and jury duty the rest of the week likely. If you are new to Colorado there is a trail guide you can find at Sportsmans Warehouse here in town where the books are, and other places as well. There is one for trails north of I-70 and one for trails south of I-70.

I guess we should ask about your rig, Timebomb. Lifted, stock, locking axles, etc? Don't want one of these guys taking you to Holy Cross and be a bit overwhelmed,lol. There is another post in this section talking about Saran wrap, Eagle Rock and Mount Baldy. Due to flood damage, you'll have to drive to Cripple Creek/Victor via paved roads to reach Gold Camp road. Head back east and I believe the trails can be reached then. Otherwise look up Hacket Gulch, Metberry Gulch, and Longwater Gulch, aka the three gulches. They are NW of Divide, and I would suspect totally doable with a stock Wrangler.